Refrigerants

A/C Refrigerant
Air Conditioning systems use refrigerant to move heat from air inside the car to air outside the car
Refrigerants are HAZARDOUS to you and the environment
Refrigerant Storage Safety
• Refrigerant containers should never be exposed to temperatures higher than 125°F. • Refrigerant cans should not be left in direct sunlight.
• Increased temperature = Increased pressure
Hot containers can explode or rupture
A/C Refrigerant is under high pressure even when the system is not running. A/C refrigerant must be properly discharged into a refrigerant recovery unit BEFORE components or refrigerant lines get disconnected.
Liquid refrigerant, when exposed to the air, quickly evaporates and will instantly freeze skin or eyes.
Refrigerant that escapes the A/C system can cause serious and instant frostbite to skin and can blind you if it contacts your eyes.
Personal Safety
• Wear safety glasses with side shields – Chemical splash goggles are the safest
• Wear leather or insulating gloves when working with pressure fittings or recovery equipment
• Work in well ventilated area to avoid asphyxiation
Personal Safety
• Do not used compressed air to leak test –
compressed air and refrigerant are flammable
• Never use a disposable refrigerant tank for storing recycled refrigerant
• Do not fill refrigerant storage tanks over 60% of the gross weight rating
Motor Vehicle Air Conditioning (MVAC) refrigerants must be recovered/recycled to protect the environment.
MVAC refrigerant MUST NOT BE RELEASED into the atmosphere.
Service facilities not having approved recovery and recycling equipment are not permitted to perform any refrigeration service work.
Any technician servicing MVAC systems must be trained and certified for section 609 of the Clean Air Act
Separate standards for section 608 stationary and commercial A/C systems ‐ you WILL NOT be trained in this
Types of Refrigerant for MVAC
Refrigerants are identified by chemical compound OR the letter R
CFC‐12 I = R‐12 HFC‐134a = R‐134a
HFO‐1234yf = R‐1234yf
R‐12
• R‐12 is a ChloroFluoroCarbon or CFC‐12
• This was the MVAC refrigerant used until 1995
• R‐12 is an Ozone Depleting gas
• Ozone filters out Ultraviolet Radiation that can cause skin cancer, eye cataracts, lower immune system, damages sea and plant life and other really nasty things
R‐134a
• R‐134a is a HydroFluoroCarbon or HFC‐134a
• R‐134a is the only refrigerant that manufacturers recommend for Retrofitting older R‐12 systems
• (other refrigerants have been approved by EPA but are not authorized by manufacturers)
• R‐134a does not harm the ozone however it is a significant contributor to global warming
R‐1234yf
• R‐1234yf is a HydroFluoroOlefin or HFO‐1234yf • HFO‐1234yf is likely the next MVAC refrigerant due to its low Global Warming Potential (GWP)
• Other refrigerants are being considered
Refrigerants CAN NOT be mixed
• Many refrigerants are used with MVAC
• Including R‐12 substitutes recognized by the EPA Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP)
• It is critical to always use an electronic refrigerant identifier before recovering and recycling any vehicle’s refrigerant Refrigerant identifier
Refrigerants CAN NOT be mixed
• Mixed Refrigerants are inefficient (Poor Cooling)
• Some combinations of refrigerants will clog and ruin recovery and recycling machines
• Each type of refrigerant uses a different lubricating oil. Mixed refrigerants wear out compressors
• Some combinations of refrigerants are flammable
Prevent Refrigerant Contamination
• Refrigerant storage tanks are color coded • MVAC systems use different service fittings for each refrigerant
• Gauge hoses are color coded for each refrigerant SAE J639 specifies fitting sizes for each refrigerant
R‐134a fitting
Quick coupler
R‐12 fitting
Threaded coupler
R‐134a Gauge Hose Red‐black stripe = high side
Blue‐black stripe = low side Yellow‐black stripe = service R‐12 Gauge Hose Solid Red or Black‐Red stripe = high side
Solid Blue or Black Blue stripe = low side
Solid Yellow or Black/yellow = service Prevent Refrigerant Contamination
• Refrigerant can be contaminated with Air
• Air is a “Non‐Condensible” gas
• Air will raise system pressures and can be detected by carefully measuring the pressure and temperature of the container
• High pressures = air Make sure container is above 65°
Carefully measure temperature and pressure
of the refrigerant cylinder
Pressures higher than shown on the chart indicate air in the cylinder Air is lighter than refrigerant so to purge the
air…slowly vent the top of the cylinder into a recycling/recovery machine.
The recycling process will remove air
This pressure chart is only accurate for pure R‐134a
Prevent Refrigerant Contamination
Moisture is a primary cause of contamination‐related problems MVAC system. Moisture in refrigerant will cause:
Ice forming in evaporator, expansion valve or orifice.
Degradation of lubricating oil.
Acid formation .
Corrosion of metals.
Compressor failure
Moisture Contamination
Any time an A/C component is removed
ALL openings should be tightly capped
This reduces moisture (and dirt) entering system
Receiver/Driers and Accumulators have desiccant bags to trap moisture.
This desiccant will actively suck moisture from the air!
Moisture Contamination
Evacuation and applying strong vacuum to the empty MCAV system will remove moisture from system. Receiver/Driers and Accumulators have desiccant bags to trap moisture.
Vacuum will not dry out the desiccant
Any system open to air for more than a very brief time should have the Receiver or Accumulator replaced Complaint ‐ Poor Cooling from A/C
Can be caused by refrigerant contaminated with:
…..incorrect refrigerant
…..air
…..moisture
OR
….Undercharge (not enough refrigerant)
….Overcharge (too much refrigerant) Identify the refrigerant and recycle‐recharge to fix
Calculate the Proper Refrigerant Charge
Always look up the correct charge specification
Use the label in the engine compartment or look it up
Proper amount (charge) of refrigerant is by weight
Charging machines use very accurate scales
May be calibrated in Pounds or Ounces You must accurately convert from weight specified to the weight shown on recharge machine
16 oz = 1 lb
Specification is 1.25 lbs – How many ounces is this?
1.25 pounds X 16 = specified ounces
20 oz
Specification is 28oz – How many pounds is this?
28 ounces ÷ 16 = specified pounds
1.75 lbs
Overcharge (too much refrigerant) = poor cooling
Undercharge (not enough refrigerant) = poor cooling
Use calculator or conversion app to get proper charge